Guide to Seine-Maritime & Property in Department 76

Seine-Maritime is a department located in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the northern coast and includes the cities of Rouen (the préfecture), Le Havre and Dieppe. The department was established during the French Revolution in 1790, from part of the old province of Normandy. The Seine-Inférieure departement was established as one of the five departments that replaced the former Normandy province. Within the department, five arrondissements were created in 1800: Rouen, Le Havre, Dieppe, Neufchatel, and Yvetot. However, Neufchatel and Yvetot were abolished in 1926. In 1955, the department was renamed Seine-Maritime to give it a more positive-sounding name, which was in line with the changes made in several other French departments.

The department of Seine-Maritime (number 76) can be divided into three main geographical areas: the Seine Valley, where the Seine flows through the provincial capital, Rouen; the chalk plateau Pays de Caux, with its abrupt coastline (Alabaster Coast); and the Norman Pays de Bray with its hills and bocage landscape.

The Seine-Maritime department is connected to the adjacent Eure department through the Tancarville and Pont de Normandie bridge crossings of the Seine. It is a popular destination full of history, favoured by Brits, Americans and Parisians. It is close to ferry ports and takes under 2 hours by car to reach Paris, and 1.3 hours by train.

Key Information about Seine-Maritime

• Main City/Prefecture: Rouen
• Nearest Airport: Rouen Airport (limited flights; Paris-CdG Airport for more connections, approx. 120 km)
• Population: Around 1.25 million (as of the latest census)
• Area: 6,278 sq. kilometres and 2,423 sq. miles
• Landmark: Étretat Cliffs, iconic white chalk cliff offering breathtaking views of the English Channel.
• Number of Tourists/Year: Approx. 4 million, attracted by its dramatic coastline, Rouen and maritime history.

If you are looking for a property in Seine-Maritime, please get in touch to discuss your search criteria.